Automatic fee determining system for parking garages

ABSTRACT

An automatic fee determining system is provided with a real time clock associated with a storage register for recording in encoded form the identification of a given 15-minute time interval of the day. A ticket issuer is positioned adjacent the entry lane of a parking facility to encode the entry time upon the ticket information from the real time storage register. The information is encoded by passing the ticket beneath continuously energized tone heads which place BCD codes on the tickets. Switching of the signal to the tone heads in response to the position of the tickets at the issuer provides for multiple digit encoding in longitudinally spaced relationship on the tickets. The tone heads are transversely movable and register with the edge of the card for proper alignment. A ticket reader reads a separate channel on the ticket to test its proper orientation and validity and then stores the information read from the ticket in an IN-time storage register. A third storage register stores the elapsed time and is differentially coupled to the real time storage register and the IN-time register loaded by the reader. Mechanical and electronic storage registers are alternatively provided. The differential comparator is similarly either a mechanical differential drive or an electronic comparator. The mechanical version includes an overdrive anti-slack feature. Fees are computed based on the elapsed time computed and stored in a fee register. The coded fee information operates either a recording cash register or an automatic cash-receiving pay station.

United States Patent 119 Gieringer et al.

1111 3,760,160 14 1' Sept. 18, 1973 Cincinnati Time Recorder Company[73] Assignee:

Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio [22] Filed: Apr. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 244,009

[52] U.S. Cl.. 235/6l.7 R, 194/DIG. 23, 235/6l.8 R

AUTOMATIC FEE DETERMINING SYSTEM 1 [57] ABSTRACT An automatic feedetermining system is provided with a real time clock associated with astorage register for recording in encoded form the identification of agiven 15-minute time interval of the day. A ticket issuer is positionedadjacent the entry lane of a parking facility to encode the entry timeupon the ticket information from the real time storage register. Theinformation is encoded by passing the ticket beneath continuouslyenergized tone heads which place BCD codes on the tickets. Switching ofthe signal to the tone heads in response to the position of the ticketsat the issuer provides for multiple digit encoding in longitudinallyspaced relationship on the tickets. The tone heads are transversely [51]Int. Cl. G06k 15/00 movable and register with the edge f the card f [58]Field of Search 235/61.8 R, 61.7 R, proper alignment A ticket readerreads a separate 235/616, 1 A; 74 7 82; 340/149 channel on the ticket totest its proper orientation and 51; l94/DIG- 23 validity and then storesthe information read from the ticket in an IN-time storage registerpAthird storage References Cited register stores the elapsed time and isdifferentially UNITED STATES PATENTS coupled to the real time storageregister and the IN- 3,548,161 12 1970 Schwarz 23'5/61.6R time registerloaded y the reader- Mechanical and 3,541,308 11/1970 Ruby....l 235/61.6R electronic storage registers are alternatively provided. 3,604,8989/1971 Magnusson 235/616 R The differential comparator is similarlyeither a me- 3.433,932 1969 Rolke 2 A chanical differential drive or anelectronic comparator. 2,906,505 9/1959 Orr et al. 346/8 The mechanicalversion includes an overdrive anti- 2; X258: et g slack feature. Feesare computed based on the elapsed 219131172 11/1959 Stedelin et al.235/6l.8 R and f a fee i The codid fee information operates e1ther arecordmg cash regis- Primary Examiner Thomas L Sloyan ter or anautomat1c cash-recelvmg pay station. Attorney-James S. H1ght et al. 11Claims, 26 Drawing Figures 31--'-- 1, I 42 r T I 1 11.11% a l 'SSUER IREGISTER 1 1 1 IN TIME TICKET 1 z 1 DIFFERENTIAL ELAPSED.

STORAGE TIME READER I REGISTER. COMPARATOR R EGIST R l I 47 419 E 42/ 12.1 Y I I LOST TICKET i J/ i 1 a 1i 1 i 1 1 a A CASH SUBTRACTION FE 2["095 l f9 FEE I ACCEPTOR i L L OGIC REGISTER MATRIX l 1 g. 1 1 1 M7 13121121 1 Lt J 5 CONTROL CLOCK TIME REGISTER ELAPSED REAL TIME REGISTEREE REGISTER GATE CONTROL UNFILTERED FULL WAVE RECTIFIER 6O HERTZ AC /3sum '01 or 11 IN TIME STORAGE REGISTER LOGIC SIBTRACTION i I I AND AND

CASH ACCEPTOR RUB? 8 I973 LOST TICKET FROM REAL TIME CLOCK UNITS DIGITCODE PATENTEDAUB28I975 3,760,160

' sum oenrn PATENTED M182 8 I973 SHEET us 0F 11 fifl WUNI T SI REZETYMEaw;

FROM REGISTER R GIST R READER 5 (UNITS) UNITS A EXCLUSIVE OR GATES "ET/71m ,1

UNITS FLIP l l T F FLOP E I L R 4 OR AND S 7 OR 455-7 AND TENS S FLIP 6FLOP f R OR q AND /4.;

' RIIII R 2 0R READER Q AND R 4 BR 8 AND D- 7 m T ag-7 AND J A LIID :27AIR 1 1 Z;- /f// 4 IN TIME FROM FROM (TENS) REAL TIME IN TIME FROMREGISTER REGISTER READER (TENS) (TENS) R SET 0M f READER 1%? Pmmmws'z I3,760,160

srm us or 11 inumm armnnmm PATEN TED M182 8 5 S E 09 0F 11 PATENTEU511328975. 3,760,160

SHEET 10 0F 11 I I J fl 9s DECODER I l I 2461. I

ELAPSED TIME I REGISTER I fl 34/ /7/ 49' I ENE] DECIMAL DIFFERENTIAL lFROM cI ocI fiifi TO BCD COMPARATOR REG CONVERTER CIRCUIT 1 I 45 I IN-TIME I L REGISTER J I FROM READERZ/ Jai ,2! I v DIoDE DECIMAL I TO B cD f 4e CONVERTER REAL 3,, DIoDE DECIMAL EZSI I To BCD (DECIMAL) 1CONVERTER Z a; (u TS) 3/5 3/0 '-ExcI usIvE OR I I )raze GATES c 7 I UNTs J29 BCD DECIADE g'g'gg T0 2 COUNTER COUNTER 8 DE- 32a 3 4 3' IO K HzCLOCK v I R R V I j 3? 44/{ if M If I TENS 386 C DECADE COUNTER TENS 2DECADE COUNTER R l a l; 1R #43 3/3 LIDVEIMIE 43/6 (TENS) RESET COMPUTE 0REIIIII R fg- AUTOMATIC FEE DETERMINING SYSTEM FOR PARKING GARAGES Thepresent invention relates to automatic fee computing systemsparticularly for use in parking facilities and the like.

it is conventional in the operation of parking facilities to issue to anentering motorist a record bearing information associated with the entrytime. When the motorist leaves the facility, this time is compared withthe real time of day and a fee is determined based on the elapsed timebetween the entry and the exit times. Commonly, this computation is donemanually by an attendant who handles the cash transaction and permitsthe motorist to remove his vehicle from the parking area.

In some cases, it is desirable, particularly in the selfservice parkinglot parking facilities, to eliminate the need for an attendant. Thisrequires an automated system for recording the information upon a recordwhich is issued to the motorist and a reading of the recordedinformation automatically at an exit station when the motorist leavesthe facility, and to thereafter automatically compute the elapsed timeand automatically assign a fee based on this elapsed time. In this case,means must be provided to receive cash from the motorist or some otherform of payment and, when the proper payment has been received, toautomatically open a gate or perform a similar operation to allow themotorist to leave the facility.

Some systems of the prior art provide minute-byminute computation of thetime. This requires elaborate and expensive means for recording the timeon an issued record, in reading the time from the record, and incomputing the lapsed time on the minute-by-minute basis.

In other situations, it is desirable to retain the attendant,particularly in large parking facilities where his ability to handle achange-making operation can greatly expedite the transaction ofbusiness. It is, however, greatly desirable in such situations thataccurate records be automatically maintained to insure that the properfees have been collected and returned to the owner of the lot.

It is the principal objective of the present invention to provide anautomated parking fee computation system having features whicheffectively and efficiently provide for either fully automatic parkingfacility operations or precise acounting and control information in anattended parking area.

Accordingly, the present invention is predicated in part upon theconcept of dividing the time of day into a plurality of discrete timeintervals, which'intervals are sufficiently short to allow accuratecomputation of the elapsed time, but not so short as to require completenumerical computation capability to determine the elapsed time. Thepresent invention is further predicated upon the concept of providing anelapsed time and fee computation device comprising at least threedigital storage registers differentially linked together so that oneregister will contain information representative of the differencebetween the values stored in the other two. Specifically, one registeris controlled by a real time clock and contains information relating tothe identification of the current specific time interval of the day. Thesecond register is controlled by a record reader so as to receive andstore information relating ferential value in the third register isachieved by first setting the second register to the IN-time, assupplied by the record reader, and then by changing the value of thesecond registeruntil the information containedtherein corresponds tothat of the first or real time register, to simultaneously make acorresponding change in the value of the third register, which change isrepresentative of the number of elapsed time periods between, forexample, entry and exit to and from a parking facility.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, solid statecircuitry forms the registers and the means for computing and comparingdifferentially the values to establish the elapsed time. According toanother embodiment of the invention, the registers are mechanical rotaryswitches linked together by a differential mechanical drive assembly.

The device of the present invention also includes an electronic feecomputing device which assigns a fee based on the output of the elapsedtime register, and also which communicates its value to a fourth feeregister contained within an automatic pay station. Alternatively, theoutput of the fee determining circuit may operate a-recording cashregister for use by an attendant.

In a mechanical register embodiment of the present invention, animprovement is provided in the differential comparator drive whereby itsoutput is overdriven so as to remove residual motion from thedifferential mechanism.

' Also according'to the present invention, tickets are encodedmagnetically as they are being issued by the placement of stationarytone heads adjacent a ticketfeeding path and to energize these heads asthe tickets are passed beneath them to encode the tickets inlongitudinal strips, preferably with BCD representations of the time ofday at which the ticket is issued. Plural elements of information arerecorded by causing the data transmitted to the heads to be switched inresponse to the relative position of the issuing ticket with respect tothe heads so as to encode upon the tickets different elements of data inlongitudinally spaced relationship therealong. Registration of the toneheads with respect to the ticket is achieved by providing a transverselyfloating head provided with an edge detecting guide and biasing meansfor moving the head until the guide is in contact with the edge of theticket. A separate channel is provided to one side of the ticket fordetection by a reader at the exit lane. This channel is employed todetermine the proper orientation of the ticket and also fordetermination of whether or not the ticket is validly encoded. Thechannel is so positioned that only one orientation of a validly codedticket will result in proper detection of signal recorded on thechannel. Improperly oriented or invalidly encoded tickets are rejectedand returned to the customer.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will bemore readily apparent from the following detailed description of thedrawings illustrating the preferred forms of parking system embodyingthe principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a logic diagram of the ticket issuer of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the preferred embodiment ofthe ticket issuer of the system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4-6 are diagrammatic elevational views of a ticket being dispensedfrom the issuer of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the exit station of thestation of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 8-10 are diagrammatic elevational views of a ticket being insertedinto the reader of the exit station of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a logic diagram of the circuit of the reader of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a logic and schematic diagram of one embodiment of thecomputation module portion of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a logic diagram of the comparator circuit portion of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the mechanical differentialcomparator of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 15-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view take along line 17-17 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is a diagram of an encoded ticket for use with the system ofFIG. 1;

FIGS. 19-23 are cross-sections taken along lines 19-19 through 23-23respectively of FIG. 14;

FIG. 24 is a block diagram of the elapsed time computation portion ofthe circuit of FIG. 12 in an alternative solid state form;

FIG. 25 is a logic diagram of a portion of the circuit of FIG. 24; and

FIG. 26 is a logic and schematic diagram of a portion of an alternativeversion of the system of FIG. 1 for use in an attended parking facility.

A parking system according to the present invention is illustrated inthe block diagram of FIG. 1. This system includes a ticket issuer 11, aticket receiver and reader 12, a computation andlogic module 13, and anexit gate control 14. Normally, the ticket issuer 1'1 and the ticketreceiver and reader 12 are positioned at different locations within aparking area, with the issuer 11 adjacent an entrace lane or gate andthe ticket receiver and reader 12 adjacent an exit lane and gate.Preferably, the computation module 13 is located at the exit gate withthe ticket reader and, in the preferred embodiment, is housed integrallywith the ticket reader 12.

The ticket issuer 11 includes a device which issues a ticket to acustomer entering the parking area. This ticket is then coded withinformation representative of a time interval of the day during whichthe customer entered the parking area. The coded information is recordedon the ticket as it is issued, and this information is supplied to theticket issuer 11 in coded form on a line or set of lines 17 from thecomputation module 13.

The ticket receiver 12 includes a ticket reader 21 which receives theticket from the customer at the exit lane as he is leaving the parkingarea. The reader 21 reads the information encoded upon the ticket, whichinformation is representative of the time at which the customer enteredthe lot, and transmits this information along a line or set of lines 22to the computation module 13. If the customer has lost his ticket, hemay depress a lost ticket button 23 on the reader panel which willtransmit information indicating this fact along a line 24 to thecomputation module 13 to assign usually a maximum fee.

The ticket receiver unit 12 may, and preferably does, also include anautomatic pay station 30 which includes a cash accepter 31 and also, ifdesired, a change return device 32. The cash accepter accepts cashdeposited by the customer and transmits information indicating theamount of cash deposited along a line 35 to the computation module 13.If change is required, the computation module 13 dispatches appropriatecontrol signals along a line 36 to the change return device 32 whichreturns the proper change stored in a magazine to the customer.

The computation module 13 operates to control the ticket issuer 11 tosynchronize the encoding of information upon the ticket to a timeinterval corresponding to the actual time of day. The module 13 alsooperates the exit gate'control 14 by dispatching an appropriate commandsignal along line 37. The computation module 13 further operates toreceive the encoded information from the ticket reader 21 on line 22 andto compare this information with the time period indicating the time ofday at which the customer is leaving the lot, and then computes thenumber of time periods which have elapsed between the customers entryand exit to assign the proper fee to be charged the customer for thetime for which he has used the parking area. The computation module 13additionally displays the assigmed fee to the customer. Payment of thisassigned fee into the cash accepter 31 transmits signals along line 35to the module 13 to cause to to operate the gate control 14 to permitthe customer to leave the lot.

The computation module 13 includes a real time clock 40 which operatesin correlation with the actual time of day. The clock 40 is providedwith means for dividing the time of day into discrete time periods andto generate signals corresponding to these time period divisions along aline 41 to a real time storage register 42. The register 42 is providedwith an output 43 on which coded information representative of the timeperiod related to the real time of day is transmitted to the ticketissuer 11 along line 17.

The module 13 is further provided with an IN-time storage register 45which receives the coded information from the ticket reader 21 alongline 22. This information, representative of the time at which thecustomer entered the lot, had been encoded upon the ticket, when thecustomer entered the lot. As it is read from the ticket, it is stored inthe register 45 for further interrogation. A differential comparator 46is provided with the two inputs, a first input 47 which receives thelN-time from register 45, and a second input 48 which receives the realtime from the output 43 of the real time register 42. This real timebecomes the OUT-time which is compared with IN-time information receivedon line 47 from the IN-time storage register 45 in order to derive tothe number of elapsed time periods which is transmitted in coded formalong line 49 to an elapsed register 50 which stores the elapsed timeinformation.

The information from the elapsed time register 50 is communicated alonga line 83 to a diode fee matrix 52. The diode fee matrix 52 serves as afee computing device which determines the fee to be charged for thenumber of time periods clasped between entry and exit from the lot. Thisfee is contained in information transmitted along line 53 to a feeregister 54 which records and displays the fee to the customer. In theevent that the ticket has been lost, a maximum fee charge would beentered in the register 54 through information received from line 24from the lost ticket switch 23 and is input to the register 54 alongline 55. As cash is deposited into the cash accepter 31, the informationtransmitted therefrom along line 35 is processed by logic 58 whichgenerates the control signal on line 37 to operate the gate 14 when theamount of cash accepted corresponds to the fee as stored in the register54. This logic 58 preferably operates the fee register 54 throughinformation transmitted along line 59, to decrement the contents of theregister 54 so as to cause the register 54 to record the balance due andalso to display this to the customer. The operation and structure of theticket issuer can best be understood by reference to FIGS. 2 through 6.

According to one of the aspects of the present invention, the INtime isencoded magnetically upon paper tickets. Such a ticket 65 can be seen inFIG. 5. The ticket 65 is made of paper and carries printed thereon inmagnetizable ink three longitudinal two part strips 66. The forwardportion 67 of the strips 66 lies near the leading edge 68 of the ticket65 and is provided to carry binary coded information representative ofthe units portion of a decimal number which identifies the particularperiod of time during a day. The trailing portions 69 of the strips 66is provided to carry information representing the tens digit of thedecimal number. Two decimal digits are encoded to provide sufficientcapacity to carry BCD representations of ninety-six time periods, eachrepresentative of a different minute interval of a 24 hour day.

In FIGS. Sand 6, the reference line 70 represents the position of a rowof magnetic recording heads overlying the ticket 65. As will beexplained below, in the encoding of the tickets, binary information istransmitted to the recording heads serially with the binary informationrepresenting the units digits being transmitted first and thatrepresenting the tens digit being transmitted second. In FIG. 5, theticket is so positioned such that the units information is beingrecorded on the forward strip portions 67. In FIG. 6, the ticket is sopositioned that the tens digit information is being recorded on stripportion 69. As the region 71 lying between the strip portions 102 and 69passes beneath the heads positioned at line 70, the informationtransmitted to the recording heads is switched from the units digitencoding information to the tens digit encoding information. Thisswitching is achieved by a switch 72 which is actuated by a cam 73carried by the mechanism which feeds the ticket 65. As shown in FIGS. 5and 6, when the strip portions 67 are beneath the heads positioned atline 70, the switch 72 is actuated, and when the strip portions 69underline the heads at line 70, the switch 72 is deactuated.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a logic and schematic diagram of the ticketissuer 11 is therein illustrated. The BCD information is fed to theissuer 11 along the lines 17 from the computation module 13. Themagnetic encoding is done by magnetic recording heads 75 which arephysically positioned in the reader overlying the line 70 (FIGS. 5 and6). The heads 75-1, 75-2, 75-4 and -7 record BCD information, forexample, in a 1-2-4-7 code. The adjacent heads 75-1 and 75-2 arepositioned over one of the strips of the ticket and are preferably twoportions of the single stereo recording head. Similarly, heads 75-4 and75-7 are positioned over the center strip of the ticket 65. A fifth head75-C is provided to generate a control signal which will be used by theticket reader 21 to recognize the proper orientation of the ticket. Thisheadoverlies the third strip of the ticket 65.

The heads 75 are energized with a 120 hertz signal which is formed froma 60 hertz AC source 76 passed through an unfiltered, full-waverectifier 77. The head 75-C is permanently connected across the outputof the filter 77. Each of the heads 75-1 through 75-7 is connectedthrough a contact a respective reed relay 78-1 through 78-7 across theoutput of the filter 77. The read relays 78 are each driven by arespective one of four OR-gates 79-1 through 79-7. Each of the OR- gates79 is provided with two inputs. One of the inputs of each of theOR-gates 79 is connected to the output of a respective one of fourAND-gates 80-1 through 80-7, while the other input ofeach of theOR-gates 79 is connected to a respective output of one of four AND-gates81-1 through 81-7. The AND-gates 80 supply the units digit informationwhile the AND-gates 81 supply the tens digit information. The AND-gates80 and 81 are each provided with a pair of inputs. One of the inputs ofeach of the AND-gates 80 is connected to the one of the respective inputlines from the line l7U of the line set 17 which carries the respectivebit of the units digit information, while one of the inputs of therespective AND-gates 81 is connected in a similar manner to one of theinput lines 17T of the line set 17 from the computation module 13. Thesecond inputs of each of the AND-gates 80 are tied together andconnected to the normally closed contact 72A of the limit switch 72,while the second inputs of each of the AND-gates 81 are tied togetherand connected to the normally open contact 72B of the limit switch72.-The common terminal of the limit switch 72 is energized to apply asignal at the appropriate logic level to enable whichever set ofAND-gates 80 or 81 is connected by the switch 72. g

In operation, digital information representative of the real time of daywill be continuously present in BCD coded form on the line 17 enteringthe ticket issuer 11.

As the ticket is issued, the switch 72 is actuated to the position shownin FIG. 2 to allow the BCD units information from line 17U to passthrough the AND-gates 80 to energize appropriate ones of the relays 79and thereby close the appropriate contacts 78 to drive the appropriateheads 75 to print the coded information on the ticket which correspondsto the unitsposition of a decimal number representative of the period ofthe time of day. When the ticket passes the gap 71 beneath the heads 75,the switch 72 actuates to position 72B allowing the tens digitinformation from lines 17T to pass through the AND-gates 81 andsimilarly to energize the heads 75 with the information representativeof the tens digit of the decimal number representing the real time ofday at entry. I

Referring to FIG. 3, the structure of the tissue issuer 11 isillustrated. The issuer includes a housing 83 having contained therein adevice which feeds individual ticket blanks beneath a record headassembly 84 as each entering customer approaches the ticket issuer 11.The assembly 84 includes a guide plate 85 pivotally attached about ashaft 86 to a frame mount 87 secured to the housing 83. The plate 85 isfree to slide transversely on the shaft 86. TI-Ie plate 85 has mountedat one end thereof the recording heads 75 which are positioned in theassembly 84 so as to contact the magnetizable strips 66 printed on aticket 65 as it passes over a lower platen assembly 88. Tickets aredriven beneath the 75 on the plate 88 by a feed mechanism (not shown) ofa conventional type. On the drive mechanism of the feed mechanism ispositioned the cam 73 which operates the switch 72 as is showndiagrammatically in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, the construction of the head assembly 84 can bebetter seen. The plate 88 underlies the issued ticket 65. The guideplate85 is shown as supported at its upper end upon the pivot shaft 86. Theplate 85 is free to slide transversely upon the shaft 86 but is biasedby a compression spring 89 to move in one direction. The guide plate 85is provided with a downwardly formed guide surface 90 which registersagainst one edge 91 of the ticket 65 so that the headsmay beappropriately registered with respect to the edge 91 of the ticket 65 tocoincide exactly with the magnetizable 66 preprinted upon the ticket 65.About the shaft 86 is also provided a pair of idler rollers 92 whichpress the ticket 65 against the platen 88.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the ticket reader 21, the lost ticket switch23, the cash accepter 31, and the change return mechanism 32, aremounted behind a panel 99 within what will be hereinafter generallyrefered to as the exit station assembly 100. The panel 99 has mountedthereon the ticket receiving slot 101 through which the customer insertshis ticket upon leaving the lot. The panel 99 also includes a coinreceiving slot 102 into which the customer deposits coins into the cashaccepter mechanism 31 lying therebehind. Adjacent the coin slot 102 ispositioned a digital fee display 103 which is operated to display thefee data stored in, and may be a part of, the fee register 54 (FIG. 1).The panel 99 also includes a coil return slot 104 into which changebeing returned by the change return mechanism 32 (FIG. 1) positionedbehind the panel 99 will drop. Also, a coin and ticket return button 105is positioned on the panel 99 to cancel the transaction and return allmoney deposited by the customer plus his inserted ticket to him. Thereturned money will also be delivered via the slot 104 while thereturned ticket will emerge from the ticket receiving slot 101 when thisbutton 105 is depressed.

A ticket reader head assembly 108, illustrated in FIGS. 8-10, issubstantially identical to the ticket issuer head assembly 84 describedabove. The read head structure shown in FIG. 8 includes generally theread head assembly 108 which carries the magnetic read heads 109. Thisis also pivotally mounted about a shaft 110 along which it is free tomove transversely but is biased by a compression spring 111 in onedirection so that a guide member 1 12 of the head assembly 108 willregister against the edge 91 of the ticket 65 inserted into the readerthrough the slot 101. Rollers 113 are provided to press the ticket 65against a platen 114 which forms the lower edge of the slot 101. Thereader 21 is provided with three ticket responsive switches. Theseinclude a front card limit switch 1 17, which is actuated to indicatethe presence of the ticket near the slot 101 on the platen 1 14, a backcard limit switch 118 which is provided to detect a ticket at the backedge of the platen 114, and a half-way switch 119 which is provided todetect the presence of a ticket at the position at which the read heads109 cross over the region 71 on the ticket 65 between the forward unitsportion 67 of the strips 66 and the rearward tens portion 69 of thestrips 66. By reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, it can be seen that the readhead position relative to the ticket indicated by the reference line 120corresponds to a relative position wherein the heads 109 overlie theunits portion 67 of the strips 66 while the switch 1 19 is deactuated.As the ticket passes into the reader, and the portion 71 passes beneaththe head 109 and across the reference line 120, and actuator 121positioned in an appropriate distance from the read head 109 will detectthe leading edge 68 of the ticket 65 to actuate the switch 119 beforethe heads 109 have reached the tens portion 69 of the strips 66.

The operation and circuitry of the reader 21 can better be understood byreference to FIG. 11. As in the ticket issuer 11, the magnetic beads 109include heads 109-1, 109-2, 1094 and109-7 which correspond to therespective bit representations of the 1-2 -4-7 BCD code which representsthe. numbers coded upon the tickets. These heads are preferably groupedwith the heads 109-1 and 109-2 forming two tracts of a single stereorecording head which overlies one of the strips 66 on the ticket whilethe heads 109-4 and 109-7 form parts of another stereo head whichoverlie the center strip of the ticket. A fifth head 109-C is providedwhich overlies the third strip of the ticket and operates as a controlchannel to determine whether or not the ticket has been properlyinserted.

Each of the heads 109 has its output connected to the inputs of arespective pre-amplifier 124-1 through 124-7. These pre-amplifiersoperate to amplify the tones picked up by the heads 109 and to serve asdetectors to provide a positive output on the respective line 125-1through 125-7 when a tone is present in a given channel. These outputs125 are connected to one of the inputs of a set of two input AND-gates126-1 through 126-7 which have the other of their inputs connectedtogether and to the normally opened contacts 117A of the front cardlimit switch 117 so that signals will pass through the AND-gates 126only when the switch 117 is actuated by the presence of 'a portion ofthe card 65. The output of the AND-gates 126 are connected to the commonterminals 119-1 through 119-7 of respective poles of the half-way limitswitch 119. The switch 119 will change positions as the card is beingfed beneath the recording heads 109. In this manner, the informationread by heads 109 is first transmitted to the units leads 22-U of theline set 22 and then to the tens set 22-T of the line set 22. Thus,first the units BCD coded information is read from the ticket portions67, and then as the heads pass over the region 71 of the ticket, theswitch 119 changes state to cause the information to be read from thetens portion 69 of the strips 66 of the ticket 65 to be fed to lines22-T.

The feeding of the ticket is initiated by actuation of the front cardlimit switch 117 as the ticket 65 is inserted into the slot 101. Thissignal is transmitted to one of the inputs of a two input AND-gate 128which has the other of its inputs, which is an inverted input, connectedto the back card limit switch 118. Signals are interpreted as logicallypositive from the switches 117 and 118 when the switches are closed orare in a position actuated by the presence of the ticket 65. Thus, asthe front card limit switch 1 17 closes, the back card limit switch 118being at this time open, the signal will pass through the AND-gate 128and through an OR-gate 129 whereupon it energizes a ticket feed motor130 to feed the ticket 65 by linkage illustrated diagrammatically by thedotted line 131 through the reader 21. The motor 130 will continue tofeed the ticket until the back card limit switch 118 is actuatedwhereupon the output of the AND-gate 128 will go to zero stopping themotor 130.

If aticket is properly inserted, a signal will be detected by the head109-C and will cause a positive signal at the output of thepre-amplifier detector 134 which will be applied to the negative inputof an AND- gate 135 to inhibit the output of this gate. The output ofthe gate 129 is also connected to a negative input of the AND-gate 135to inhibit the output of this gate while the motor 130 is being drivenin a forward direction. The front card limit switch 117 is connected toa positive input of this gate 135. If a signal is not detected by head109-C, then when both the front limit switch 117 and the back card limitswitch 118 are closed, a signal will pass through the AND-gate 135through an OR-gate 136 to actuate a one-shot multi-vibrator 137 which isenergized for a sufficient amount of time to drive the motor 130 in areverse direction and eject the ticket through the slot 101 back to thecustomer. The cancel or ticket and coin return switch 105 is alsoconnected to the OR-gate 136 to energize this one-shot multi-vibrator137 to allow the customer to manually return the ticket to him at anytime during the transaction by driving the motor 130 in reverse for aspecified period of time.

In this manner of providing the control channel 109-C within the readerand issuer, only a ticket properly issued by an issuer 11 and thenproperly inserted in the appropriate orientation into the slot 101 ofthe reader will be accepted. Thus, if a blank or uncoded ticket isinserted even properly into the slot 101, no signal will be detected bythe read head 109-C and the ticket will be automatically returned to thecustomer. If, on the other hand, a ticket, even if properly coded whenissued, is inserted in the improper orientation into the slot 101, itwill also be returned to the customer. This is due to the fact that ifthe ticket is inserted upside down no recording will be detected by thehead 109-C and the motor 130 will automatically reverse and eject theticket. Also, if the ticket is inserted backwards into the slot 101, thehead 109-C will be positioned relative to the ticket, instead ofoverlying the lowermost row or strip 66 on the ticket as shown in F 108.9 and 10, overlying the region above the uppermost row of the ticket (asthe ticket will be upside down in the drawing), and thus, causing theticket to be returned.

When a transaction has been completed, the ticket will be automaticallyfed from its position on the platen into a receptacle within the housingof the exit station 100. This is achieved by the communication of asignal on line 140 from the computation module 13. This signal actuatesa one-shot multi-vibrator 141 which causes the signal to pass throughthe OR-gate 129 and drive the motor 130 in a forward direction for aspecified period of time which is sufficient to completely transport theticket 65 from the platen area of the reader to the appropriatereceptacle provided for it. Thus, once the transaction is completed andthe customer has gained egress from the lot, the ticket is retained bythe exit station and cannot be used again by the customer. A resetsignal line 142 is provided to reset the computation module. This lineis connected to the normally closed contact of the front and limitswitch 117. Also, a compute command signal line 143 is providedconnected to the normally opened contact of the back card switch 118.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating the computation module 13 in oneembodiment of the present invention. This diagram illustrates the clock40 having its output 41 connected to the input of an elapsed timecomputation module 150. The module includes the real time register 42having its output 43 provided in two forms. The first form is a BCDoutput 151 connected to the ticket issuer 11 through lines 17. The clock40 includes a real time clock or synchronis motor 152 which drives a 15minut stepper mechanism 153. This causes an intermittent angular motionor displacement at the input 41 every. fifteen minutes. The input 41 isa mechanical shaft, in this embodiment, which drives the wipers of apair of rotary switches 154 and 155. Each of the switches 154 and 155 isa 96 position fotir-pole rotary switch. Each of the 96 positionscorresponds to one of the 96 15 minute interval time periods of the day.Each of these time intervals is identified by a unique decimal number inthe range of from 1 to 96, and these numbers are represented by theswitch positions. The switch 154 represents the units digits of thisdecimal number and the switch 155 represents the tens digit of thisdecimal number. Each of the wiper contacts is electrically connected toone of the BCD output lines 151. Each of the switches is so wired so asto impose a unique BCD representation of the decimal numbers on thelines 151 when the switch is in each of the 96 positions. The shaft ofthese switches 154 and 155 forms a mechanical output 156, the angularposition of which is representative of the setting of the real timeregister 42. The outputs 151 and 156 logically represent the sameinformation designated as output 43 in FIG. 1 except that thisinformation is in two different coded forms, that on lines 151 beingelectrical BCD encoded infonnation and that on shaft 156 being amechanical one of 96 angular positions.

The output 22 from thereader 21 connects to an lN- time storage regiser45 which includes an electrical storage register and comparator circuit160, a mechanical IN-time storage register 161, and a hunt motor 162.The circuit 160 operates to store the electrical information from thereader 21 and transform it into a mechanical form as designated by theangular position of the switches of register 161. Register 161 is of thesame form as register 42 in that it includes a pair of 96 positionfour-pole rotary switches 163 and 164. The switch 163 represents theunits position of the decimal digit while the switch 164 represents thetens position of the decimal digit, that decimal digit corresponding tothe number assigned to one of the 96 angular positions of the switches163 and 164. The manner in which the switch register 161 is set to theproper angular position which represents the lN-time of a customer is bythe driving of a motor 162 through an electrical lead 165 from thecomparator 160. The line 165 is energized as long as BCD information onlines 166 representative of the angular positions of the switches 163and 164 does not correspond to that read from the reader 21. When thisinformation does coincide, a signal on line 165 is immediatelyterminated, thus causing the position of the register 161 to stop in theprecise position which corresponds to the IN-time as read by the reader21 from the deposited ticket 65 of the customer. This angular positionof the register 161 is transmitted along the shaft 167 which correspondsto the output 47 from the IN-time register 45. The output of the motor162, while shown in FIG. 12 as connected to the shaft of switch 161, isin the embodiment shown below (FIG. 14) connected to the shaft of theelapsed time register 170. As will be seen, this is equivalent and doneas a matter of convenience.

The operation of the comparator 160 in conjunction with the lN-timeregister 161 and hunt motor 162 which comprises the IN-time storageregister 45 will be better understood in connection with the discussionof the comparator circuit of FIG. 13 below. After this comparatorgenerator is complete, however, the real time of day or the OUT-time ofthe customer will be represented by an angular position of the real timeregister switch 42 while the IN-time of the customer, that which wasencoded upon his ticket will be represented by the angular position ofthe lN-time register switches 161. These two times are transmitted tothe differential comparator 46 through inputs 48 and 47 respectively.The differential comparator '46 is a mechanical differential drive 171which operates to compute the elapsed time in terms of the number ofminute time intervals which have elapsed between the IN-time of thecustomer and the OUT-time of the customer. This elapsed time isrepresented by the angular position of the output shaft 172 which formsthe differential output signal line 49 of FIG. 1. This shaft 172 drivesthe rotary switch 170 which is a 96 position single-pole rotary switch.This switch 170 functions as the elapsed time register 50 of FIG. 1. Theoutputs of the switch 170 are 96 separate lines, each of whichcorresponds to one of the fifteen minute time interval periods of theday. These 96 lines represent the signal output 51 of FIG. 1.

The circuitry of the remaining portion of the system illustrated in thediagram of FIG. 12 is similar to that disclosed in the copendingapplication of Carl Gieringer et al. entitled Automatic Fee DeterminingSystem For Parking Garages, Ser. No. 143,300 filed May 14, 1971. Thissystem includes the diode matrix 52 which transforms the one-of-f-96coded representations of the number of elapsed time intervals into aspecific fee which is encoded in the form of threedecimal digits, eachrepresented by a one-to-ten code electrical signal on line53.

The lines 53 connect to the fee register 54 which stores a decimalrepresentation of the dollar amount of the fee assessed by the diodematrix 52 for the number elapsed time intervals as established by theelapsed time register 50. Once the fee has been set in the register 54,a signal is emitted on line 175 which sets a flipflop 176. The output ofthe flip-flop 176 is connected to one of the inputs of a two inputAND-gate 177. The outer input of the AND-gate 177 is connected to anoutput 178 of the fee register 54. The output 178 will carry a signalwhen the fee register has been reduced to zero. The register will bereduced to zero as the cash deposited in the cash receiver issubstracted from the fee as determined in the register 54. This zerosignal passing through the AND-gate 177 will actuate the gate control 14through the line 37 and also supply the transaction complete signal tothe line which energizes the reader to drop the ticket into the internalreceptacle. The signal out of the AND-gate 177 also passes through anOR-gate 180 to reset the flip-flop 176, and thus make further actuationof the gate impossible until a fee has been set up again on the feeregister 54. The flip-flop 176 and the fee register 54 are also capableof being reset by depression of the coin and ticket return or cancelbutton 105 on the panel 99.

The system is further provided with subtraction logic illustrateddiagrammatically as box 58 in FIG. 12 which transmits the signal alongline 59 to decrement or reduce the fee register 54 toward zero as cashis received. When a zero set is reached and this signal is present online 178, a signal is generated along line 181 to the subtraction logic58 which sends an appropriate signal along the line 36 to the changer 32representative of the overpayment so that correct change can be returnedto the customer.

The fee register may also be set by actuation of the lost card switch 23which signals the fee register 54 along line 24.

Referring now to FIG. 13, the details of the comparator circuit 160 ofFIG. 12 are shown in logic diagram form. The register 160 includes a setof inputs 22 from the card reader 21. These inputs are in two groups offour, groups 22-,-U which carries the BCD coded units digits and group22-T which carries the BCD coded tens digit information. Each of thelines 22-U is connected to the set input of a respective one of a setfour flip-flops 185-1 through 185-7 and each of lines 22-T is'connectedto the set input of a respective one of a set of four flip-flops 186-1through 186-7. The reset inputs of each of the flip-flops 185 and 186are all connected together and to the reset line 142 which is connectedfrom the normally closed contact of the front card limit switch 1 17A ofthe card reader 21 (FIG. 1 1). Thus, the flip-flop 185 will be set andhold the signals applied to them from the card reader as the firstportion of the strips on the cards are read and then the flipflop186will store the tens digit information as that information is read fromthe second portion of the strip on the ticket. Once this information isset in the flipflop 185 and 186, which form an input storage register,it will be retained until the ticket is. no longer present to actuatethe front card limit switch 117, which will in effect be until thetransaction is completed. The outputs from the flip-flops 185 and 186pass through OR- gates 187 and 188 respectively into one of the inputsof respective sets of two input EXCLUSIVE OR-gates 189 and 190. Theother of the inputs of each of the OR- gates 189 are connected from theoutputs 166-U of the IN-time storage register 161 and the other of theinputs of the register 190 are connected from the outputs 166-T of thetens position of the IN-time storage register 161. The outputs of theregister 189 and 190 will be zero when the respective bits from thereadr and the IN-time storage register coincide and will be one at anytime when they do not coincide. All of these outputs are connected tothe lN-puts of an OR-gate 191. The output 192 of the OR-gate 191 isconnected through an AND-gate 193 and through an OR-gate 194 and driveamplifier 195 to the hunt motor 162 along the line 165. When any one ofthe bits out of the register 189 and 190 is a one indicating that thereis not perfect coincidence between all other respective bits from theIN- time register 161 and that supplied by the reader 21,

then there will be a signal at the output 192 of the OR- gate 191 whichwill pass through the AND-gate 193 to drive the hunt motor 162 untilsuch a position is obtained where there is a perfect coincidence, inwhich case the signal out of the OR-gate 191 will go to zero and themotor will immediately stop. The AND-gate 193 is enabled at another ofthe inputs from the compute signal line 143 by the closure of a backcard limit switch 118 from the reader (FIG. 11).

The OR-gates 187 and 188 have second inputs connected to the outputs ofrespective AND-gates 197 and 198 respectively. These AND-gates have twoinputs, the other of which is connected from the lines llU and l-Trespectively from the real time register 42 (FIG. 12). These areprovided so that the position of the IN-time register 161 may be set toa home position which is the same as the real time position. Thisfeature will provide a more rapid setting of the IN-time registers sinceit is most likely that the time lapsed between the IN-time and theOUT-time will be less than 12 hours, the average time period throughwhich the register must be expected to travel if it were randomlyplaced. Thehome setting is achieved upon a resetting of the machine andis initiated by the reset signal from line 142 which sets a flip-flop199 which has its output connected along line 676 to the other of theinputs of the AND-gates 197 and 198. Thus, upon the completion of eachtransaction, the real time position from the line 151. The flip-flop 199will be automatically reset upon the zero setting of the output 192 ofthe OR-gate 191 which will indicate that the register 161 has been setto its home position. This output 192 is connected to the negative inputof an AN D-gate 202 which has another positive input connected to theoutput of the flipflop 199. The output 203 of the AND-gate 202.isconnected to the reset input of the flip-flop 199.

Referring now to FIG. 14, the mechanical differential drive 171 isillustrated in combination with the real time register 42, the lN-timeregister 161 and the elapsed time register 170. The real time register42 in cludes the tens digit switch 155 and the units digit switch 154.The switch 155 includes a stationary printed circuit contact plate 205and the movable or wiper contact 206. The switch 154 includes the fixedprinted circuit contact plate 207 and the movable wiper contact 208. Themovable contacts 206 and 208 are rigidly secured to a shaft 209supported by bushings 210 and 211 attached to a rigid frame 212. Theswitch contacts 206 and 208 move with the shaft 209 which is turned bythe output shaft 41 of the clock 40 (FIG. 1) connected through gears 213and 214. The-switch contacts 206 and 208 moved intermittently once every15 minutes and will be normally at rest while the hunt motor 162 ismoving the IN-time register switches 161 to their desired positions. Thehunt motor 162 is connected through its output shaft 221 which carries agear thereon which drives a gear 222 secured to a shaft 223 which issupported by bearings 224 to the frame support 212 and through a bearing225 to the shaft 209. To the shaft 223 is connected the movable contact227 of the elapsed time register 170. The stationary printed circuitcontact plate 228 of the switch 170 is fixidly attached to the base 212.Thus, the motor 162 directly drives the contacts of the elapsed timeswitch 170.

The IN-time switch 161 includes the tens digits stationary switchprinted circuit contact plate 231 and the tens movable contact arm 232.Also, it includes the units digit fixed contact plate 233 and the unitsdigit movable contact plate 234. The movable contacts 233 and 234 arerigidly attached to a sleeve 235 which is channeled to the shaft 223.The contacts 232 and 234 are driven through a gear 238 attached to thesleeve 235. The gear 238 is driven through the differential drivemechanism 171. This drive is communicated from the shaft 223 which turnsa gear 241 rigidly keyed to the shaft 223. The motion of gear 241 istransmitted to a disc 242 journaled to the shaft 223 upon a sleeve 243,through the differential mechanism 244. This mechanism includes a gear246 which is carried by a shaft 247 (FIGS. 15 and 16) and disc 242. Thegear 246 drives gear 249 which is carried by a shaft 250 also carried onplate 242. The gear 249 in turn will move with respect to a gear 252rigidly supported at the end of shaft 209 of the real time clockmechanism. This causes the plate 242 to turn with the sleeve 243 aboutthe shaft 223 and to carry therewith a gear 255. The gear. 255 turns agear 256 mounted upon a shaft 257 which carries with it a gear 258 whichturns the gear 238 that drives the switches'161 of the IN -timeregister.

The drive from shaft 223 transmits motion differen tially with respecttogear 252 on the shaft 209 of the real time register 42 to the gear 238which drives the movable contacts of the INtime register switch 161.Furthermore, the mechanism thus far discussed is a conventionaldifierential drive mechanism. Itis experienced with mechanisms of thistype that considerable strain develops throughout this gear train sothat when the motor 162 is ultimately stopped the residual stresseswithin the system will continue to apply motion to the output gear 238which drives the switch register 161. With a 96 position switch, it isfound that this forward motion or delayed motion is intolerable as ittends to move the switch off of its prescribed positions.

To accommodate this, the present invention incorporates a mechanismillustrated generally at area 260 of FIG. 14 which applies a forwardstress or drive to the output gear 238. This is accomplished byproviding a slip clutch 261 which moves about the gear 238 at a. greaterrate than the gear 238 is driven by this gear 258. This acceleratedmotion of the clutch 261 is achieved through gear 263 attached rigidlyto shaft 223 which drives gear 264 which is secured to a collar 265which slips on shaft 257. This collar 265 carries the gear 266 whichdrives a gear 268 secured to the clutch plate sleeve 269 which isslidably mounted shaft 223. This gear is driven at a greater speed thangear 263 due to the relative sizes of gears 263,264,266, and 268. Thisdrives the clutch 261 at a greater speed than the gear 283 is driven bythe gear 258, thus relieving tge strain on the differential drive 171.

The differential drive illustrated in FIG. 14 is functionally equivalentthat diagramed in FIG. 12; however, the drive motor 162 is actuallyshown in FIG. 14 as connected to the elapsed time register rather thanthe IN-time register 161. The differential drive, however, maintains therelationship between the registers 42, 161 and 170 so as to set one ofthe registers whenever the other two are moved a predetermined position.

Referring briefly to FIG. 17, the 15 minute stepper is illustrated. Theclock 152 has an output gear train which includes a drive gear 275 whichdrives a gear 276 about a shaft 277. TI-Ie shaft 277 will turn at therate of one revolution every 15 minutes. This will carry the cam 278 ata similar r.p.m. which will rock the rocker arm 279 driven by the camfollower 280 at an oscillatory rate of also one cycle per 15 minutes asthe cam follower 280 drops abruptly off of the step 281 of the cam 278,the ratchet and pawl mechanism 284 will turn the gear 213 and thusrotate the gear 214 which drives the shaft 209 of the real time register42.

The operation of this differential time computer portion can beunderstood by reference to FIGS. 18 through 23. As shown in FIG. 18, aticket 65 is illustrated encoded in such a manner as to designate a timeinterval number 15. This is done through a BCD coding of 'the tensposition 69 with the one bit position only carrying a signalrepresentative of the number one in the tens position. The unitsposition 67 is encoded with bits 1 and 4 encoded representative of thenumber five in the units position. Such a time is measured from someabritrary reference point of say 6 am. would indicate that a customerentered the lot at some time between 8145 and 9:00 am. If the customerreturns to the lot to refeed his card after approximately 2% hours, hewill leave the lot at somewhere between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m., some 10 ofthe 15 minute time intervals later. At the time of exit, the real timeclock positions will be as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. FIG. 19 representsthe units digit position at the 25th time interval period of the day.This units position indicates a coding representative of the digit 5,the units digit of the number 25, stored on the units switch 154. Inthis position, the wiper 208 is in the position shown relative to thestationary switch plate 207. Similarly, the tens digit switch 155 is ina position representative of the digit 2 in the tens digit position ofthe number 25. With the wiper 206 of switch 155 in the position shownrelative to the stationary switch plate 205. Prior to inser-- tion ofthe ticket 65 (FIG. 18) into the reader 21, the elapsed time switch 170will be in a position indicated by the zero or 96 in FIG. 21. Thisindicates that the IN- time register 161 is in the same position as theOUT- time register 42 which is its home position. As the customerinserts his ticket into the reader, the comparator circuit 160 willstore the number 25 read from the ticket 65 and begin driving the motor162 until the position of the IN-time register 171 corresponds to thenumber 15. This is the position illustrated on the switch shown in FIGS.22 and 23. In this position, the switch 163 of the units position of theIN-time register is illustrated with its movable contact 234 in the 15thinterval position, wherein the number encoded is the numberrepresentative of the second digit of the number 15. In a similarposition, the wiper 232 of the switch 164 is in the position wherein thedigit 1, the tens digit of the number 15, is encoded. In this position,the difference between the settings of the register 161 and that of theregister 42 will be indicated on the switch 170 illutrated in the FIG.21 wherein the wiper contact 227 is in the position shown relative tothe fixed contact plate 228 indicating an elapse of ten intervals.

Referring now back to FIG. 12, which illustrates in detail thecomputation module 13, the embodiment therein illustrated particularlywithin the elapsed time computation portion 150 is an electro-mechanicalcomputer. FIG. 24 illustrates a block diagram form of a solid stateversion of the elapsed time computation module 150. This circuit employsa 1-2-4-8 BCD code rather than the 1-2-4-7 code employed as mentionedabove. Referring now to FIG. 24, the output 41 from the clock 40 iscommunicated to the real time register 42' which stores in decimal formthe real time interval of the day. The output of this register 156' iscommunicated through a decimal to BCD convertor of the diode decodertype 301 to deliver a real time BCD coded inputon line 48 to a solidstate differential comparator circuit 171. The output 22 from the reader21 is communicated to a solid state lNtime storage register 161 whichdirectly stores the IN-time value read from the card 21. Thedifierentiator circuit 171 computes the elapsed time and communicates itin BCD form on line 49' to a solid state elapsed time register Theoutput of this register is transmitted through the line 302 through aBCD 96 diode decoder 303 to the 96 output line 51.

The differentiator circuit 171 is illustrated in the logic diagram ofFIG. 25. The outputs from the reader on lines 22-U and 22-T are storedin registers 310 and 311 respectively. The registers 310 and 311 aresolid state integrated circuit decade counters and the inputs from lines22 are connected to the set inputs of the respective bit positions ofthese counters. The counters 310 and 31 1 make up the IN-time storageregister 161.

Another pair of decade counters 312 and 313 are provided which make upthe elapsed time storage re gister 170'. This register is set to zerothrough a reset signal on line 315 which is applied from the reset input142. The input 41 from the clock is connected to the register 42'. Theoutputs of the respective units and tens digits positions 317 and 318are converted through respective diode decimal to BCD convertors 319 and320 to BCD representations of the real time. These are communicated torespective sets of OR-gates 322 and 323. The other inputs of theseOR-gates are connected from the outputs of the respective register 310and 31 1. The outputs of the OR-gates 322 and 323 are connected to theinputs of an OR-gate 324 which has its output 325 connected to thenegative input of an AND- gate 326. The output 325 will be positive solong as any of the bit positions between the real time and the IN- timedo not coincide. A 10 kilo-hertz free running clock 328 is alsoconnected to an input of the AND- gate 326 which is provided with afurther input connected to the compute output 143 from the reader. Thecompute output 143 is energized when the back card switch 188 is closedand this will energize the AND- gate 326 so long as the output of theAND-gate 324 is positive which will be whenever the IN-time and realtime do not coincide. This will allow the ten kilo-hertz pulses to passthrough the AND-gate 326 to line 329 which is connected to the clockIN-puts of the registers 161 and 170 This will repeatedly increment bothof the registers 161'and 170' simultaneously until such time as theregister 161 coincides with the register 42'. At this point, the outputof the AND-gate 324 will go negative disabling the AND-gate 326 andremoving the pulses from line 329 terminating the counting cycle. Thenumber which will remain in the register 170 will at this time be thedifference between the IN-time which was initially set upon theregisters 161' and the real time or OUT-time which is recorded in theregister 42', thus indicating the number of elapsed time periods betweenthe IN-time and the OUT-time. The outputs of the register 170' aretransmitted through the BCD 96 diode decoder 303 to the outputs 51.

FIG. 26 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, a recording cash

1. An automatic fee determining system for computing a fee based on thenumber of elapsed time intervals between real time and the time of aprevious event comprising: a clock for generating discrete outputsignals at real time intervals; a first digital storage registerresponsive to said output signals of said clock for storing datacorrelated to real time; a record reader for reading the time of theprevious event from a record of the time of such event; a second digitalstorage register responsive to said record reader for storing datarepresentative of the time of the previous event; a third digitalstorage register for storing a digital representation of elapsed timeintervals; a differential time computing device for causing the datastored in said third register to equal the number of elapsed timeintervals corresponding to the difference between the time data storedin said first and second registers, including a register incrementingelement for incrementing the data stored in said second register andsaid third register until the data stored in said second registercorresponds to the data in said first register; and a fee determiningcomputer responsive to said third register for generating digital datarepresentative of a fee.
 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising: arecorder for dispensing records encoded with information correlated withthe data stored in said first register.
 3. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising: a fourth digital register for storing digital datarepresentative of the output of said fee computer.
 4. The system ofclaim 3 further comprising: a cash acceptor for receiving cash; a gate;means for comparing the amount of cash received by said acceptor withthe data stored in said fourth register; means for operating said gatein response to the result from said comparing means.
 5. The system ofclaim 1 further comprising: a recording cash register; means forcontrolling said cash register in response to the output from said feecomputer.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein: the output from said feecomputer is in the form of a plurality of parallel data elements; andsaid system includes a data serializer for transmitting said paralleldata serially to said cash register.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein:said first, second, and third registers are mechanical registers, andsaid differential computing device is a mechanical differential driveconnected to said first, second, and third registers.
 8. The system ofclaim 7 wherein: said differential drive includes two of saidconnections each driven by one of said registers including said firstregister and third one of said connections through which the remainingone of said registers is driven, said drive including means including aslip clutch for relieving the strain on said differential drive.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein said reader further comprises: means forreading a data channel from said record so that only an encoded recordand a record received in one and only one orientation by said readerresults in a reading of a given signal therefrom; and means forinitiating a control function in response to the reading said givensignal.
 10. The system of claim 1 wherein: said second and thirdregisters are solid state registers.
 11. An automatic fee determiningsystem for parking facilities capable of computing a fee based on thenumber of elapsed time intervals between the real time of a customer''sexit from the facility and the time of the exiting cutomer''s entry,comprising: a clock for generating discrete output signals at intervalscorrelated to real time; a first digital storage register responsive tothe output of said clock for storing data representative of real time; arecord issuer adjacent an entrance lane of said facility for dispensingrecords encoded with information corresponding to the data stored insaid first register at the time of issuance of said record; a recordreader for reading the data stored on a recoqd which corresponds to thetime of entry into said facility; a second digital storage registerresponsive to said record reader for storing digital data representativeof the time of said entry; a third digital storage register for storinga digital representation of elapsed time intervals; a differential timecomputing device for causing the data stored in said third register toequal the number of elapsed time intervals corresponding to thedifference between the time data stored in said first and said secondregisters, including a register incrementing element for incrementingthe data stored in said second register and said third register untilthe data stored in said second register corresponds to the data in saidfirst register; and a fee determining computer responsive to said thirdregister generating digital data representative of a fee.